Red Flags

EARLY SCREENING 

In cooperation with pediatricians, we perform early screening of children using developmental tests at the age of  9-18 months. 

Most of the symptoms that are crucial in recognizing autism spectrum disorders include behaviors that develop intensively in normally developing children between the ages of 9 and 18 months. 

Children younger than 18 months in whom signs of developmental delay have been observed, which may point to an autism spectrum disorders, are referred to a psychologist for assessment of developmental status. If developmental delays are confirmed during the assessment, the child is included in the early intervention program. The standard diagnostic procedure for the diagnosis of ASD has been carried out since 12 months using the observational protocol for the diagnosis of autism - ADOS-2. 

Children at increased risk for autism spectrum disorders are as follows: 

• children with a positive family history of autism spectrum disorders  

• children with genetic abnormalities such as fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis or metabolic diseases such as galactosemia or phenylketonuria  

• children whose mothers were exposed to medications such as thalidomide and valproic acid during pregnancy  

• children of elderly parents 

Check out RED FLAGS to recognize early signs of delays: 

Red flags for autism spectrum disorders: 

Some early signs of autism spectrum disorders are usually seen in the first two years. Some children have more early warning signs, while other children may have only a few. Some behavioral signs may change over time or become more obvious as children get older. Also, any loss of social or language skills during this period is cause for concern. 

The number of signs a child has varies depending on the age of the child and the severity of the child's diagnosis. 

If your child is showing one or more of the signs on the red flag list, talk to your pediatrician about a developmental assessment as soon as possible. Getting a diagnosis is the first step in helping your child and getting services and support. 

LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION 

absence of smiles and other warm, cheerful expressions until the 6th month and later 

absence of babbling until the 12th month of life 

absence of interactive gestures such as pointing, reaching or waving by the age of 12 months 

the absence of the appearance of the first words at the age of 16 months 

absence of two-part phrases with meaning at the age of 24 months (not taking into account immediate repetition) 

loss of language or social skills at any time during preschool age 

SOCIAL INTERACTION (your child): 

doesn't show objects/toys to share the experience or show that he wants something (eg doesn't show the toy he wants and looks back at you to make sure you've seen it, or drops the toy on your lap and walks away instead of holding it and looks at you) 

does not consistently respond to name 

it doesn't sound like he's talking to you when he's babbling 

copies what he hears from others or from the television (eg, when you ask him if he wants to drink more, he repeats "more drink" - the so-called echolalia) 

does not understand simple instructions (e.g. "Give me the ball" or "Show me the kitty") 

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION (your child): 

does not use gestures (e.g. does not wave without being told or without copying someone else who is waving) 

does not use eye contact to get someone's attention (eg, does not look at the parent and then at the chocolate to show that he wants it) 

does not respond to a smile with a smile 

Relationships and play (your child): 

shows no interest in other children 

he does not pretend, for example, to feed a doll 

BEHAVIOR 

RESTRICTED INTERESTS (your child): 

has an intense interest in certain objects and gets "stuck" on certain toys or objects (e.g. keeps turning the light on and off, only plays with cars) 

plays with toys and objects in only one way or in a way that the toys are not meant to be played with (eg, just turns the wheels of a toy car instead of pretending to drive the car on the floor, spinning objects) 

is very interested in unusual objects or activities (eg, metal objects or certain TV ads) 

it is fixed on the arrangement of objects, for example in a series 

ROUTINES (your child): 

is easily disturbed by change and has to follow a routine (e.g. he has to sleep, eat or leave the house in the same way every time, go to kindergarten the same way) 

REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS (your child): 

repeats body movements or has unusual body movements, such as rocking back and forth, waving arms like "flying, fluttering", twirling fingers in front of eyes, stiffness of hands and walking on toes) 

SENSORY SENSITIVITIES (your child) 

is extremely sensitive to sensory experiences (e.g. easily upset by certain sounds or will only eat food with a certain texture or color) 

seeks sensations (eg rubs objects on mouth or face, seeks vibrating objects such as washing machines, watches light flicker, closes and opens ears)